Dropper plug



D. F. ARMOUR June 6, 1961 DROPPER PLUG Filed June 6, 1957 z A s 0 m 7 w H a 5 u F F INVENTOR DONALD F. ARMOUR BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,987,223 DROPPER PLUG Donald F. Armour, Bloomfield, Conn., assignor to Plax Corporation, Bloomfield, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 6, 1957, Ser. No. 664,065 Claims. (Cl. 222-207) The present invention relates to liquid dispensing devices and more particularly to improved dispenser nozzle construction with which to effect a drop-by-drop discharge of liquid from a container.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispenser including a resilient collapsible container having an improved dropper insert or fitment which dispenses successive drops of liquid content, such as nose or eye drops, when the container is squeezed in an inverted position.

A further object is to provide a dispenser of the character described with which intermittent drop-by-drop discharge is assured and continuous stream discharge is avoided.

Another object is to provide an improved dropper fitment for squeeze bottles and the like having a trap in which to collect sediment and other solids and avoid their inclusion in the liquid drops discharged through the fitment.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent in the following description of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a plastic squeeze bottle equipped with a dropper fitment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the bottle and fitment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing details of a dropper fitment embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and FIFIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the fitment shown in The dispenser, generally designated 1, shown in the drawing includes a container 2 that commonly is referred to as a squeeze bottle and preferably is made of a flexible material, such as polyethylene or similar organic thermoplastic. The squeeze bottle 2 of the illustrated embodiment is a stock oval which, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is characterized by an oval plan and a rectangular profile having rounded corners.

A plug or fitment 3 is secured to neck portion 4 of the bottle 2. Preferably the closure 3 includes an elongated tapered cylindrical skirt portion 5 which is removably secured by a press-fit in the mouth and neck 4 of the bottle.

However, it is to be understood that a modification of the fitment 3 may be secured externally rather than internally to the neck 4 of the bottle, as for example on the thread 6, which is here provided for removably securing a cap or closure (not shown) over the fitment and on the neck of the botfle.

In accordance with the invention, the fitment 3 is provided with an axially extending bore or passageway, generally designated 7. As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the passageway 7 includes an elongate straight cylindrical portion of uniform circular cross-section in the upper end of the fitment. The lower end of the passageway portion 8 communicates with the interior of the container 2 through a very small orifice or opening 9. A .01 inch diameter orifice has been found most suitable in combination with a .06 inch diameter passage 8 for dispensing liquids of substantially water consistency. The 6:1 ratio Patented June 6, 1961 of passage cross-sections in most instances has been found to be a However, larger ratios are successful, particularly where the passage 10 connecting the passages 8 and 9 is flared or otherwise configured so that liquid discharged through the orifice 9 remains in contact with the walls of the passages 8 and 10 until discharged from lip 11 at the mouth of passageway 8.

The wall of the passage 10 which flares from the orifice 9 to the full diameter of the passage 8 in FIG. 3 is more narrowly restricted at thereto, as shown in FIG. 4, so as to assure that liquid discharged through the orifice 9 does not stream unobstructed from the fitment but rather remains in contact with or engages the passageways before discharge from the fitment and discharges drop-bydrop from the lip 11 of the inverted dispenser.

The length of the passageway 8 is important to prevention of streaming and assurance of drop-by-drop discharge. Preferably the ratio of its length to diameter or minimum cross-sectional dimension is at least as large as the ratio of the diameter or passage 8 and orifice 9.

The actual diameters or area cross-sections of passage 8 and orifice 9 may of course vary and for more viscous liquids preferably should be somewhat larger than the preferred dimensions heretofore mentioned for liquids of water consistency.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the orifice 9 is located in an inwardly protruding portion 12 of the fitment which provides an annular well 13 in which sediment, undissolved content or other solids collect when the dispenser is inverted, thus avoiding clogging of the minute orifice 9 when the dispenser is squeezed to discharge drops therefrom.

If desired, the fitment 3 may be heat-sealed or otherwise secured in the neck of the bottle to prevent refilling the dispenser once a proprietary product has been exhausted.

When it is desired to dispenser drops of the contents, the dispenser is inverted to cover the orifice 9 with liquid and the nozzle 3 located above the eye ball or any other area which is to be medicated or supplied with drops of liquid. When pressure is now placed upon the collapsible container 2 by the hand of the operator, the material contained therein will be ejected in a very fine stream through the orifice 9 and run down the narrow tapered slot 10 and the elongate passageway 8 and drop from the lip 11 in successive drops.

The relative dimensions of the orifice 9, the tapered slot 10 and chamber 8 of the dropper plug described herein are such as to produce drops without jetting. Drop size for any particular liquid to be dispensed is governed mainly by the size of outlet chamber 8 and lip 11.

The size and shape in cross section of the outlet chamber 8, size and shape of the lip 11, size and shape in cross section of the slotted opening 10 and size and shape of orifice 9 may be changed to produce a jetless one-piece dropper without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus described an illustrative embodiment of the invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing liquid with a drop-bydrop discharge comprising, a collapsible container formed of flexible material to contain liquid to be dispensed and having a mouth at one end thereof, a dispensing nozzle closing the mouth of said container to effect drop-by-drop discharge of liquid within said container upon such liquid being placed under pressure by the squeezing of said container, said nozzle having an elongated narrow open ended passageway terminating at its outer open essentially unrestricted end in a liquid discharge lip on said nozzle, said nozzle having a small orifice at the inner end of said passageway communicating with the interior of said container, said orifice having an area substantially less than the cross section area of said passageway, said passageway providing an elongated narrow opening extending outwardly from said orifice and being of a length to obstruct streaming liquid flow from said orifice and collect liquid expelled through said orifice'under pressure upon squeezing said container whereby liquid is conducted to said 'lip for discharge therefrom'in'the form of discrete drops.

2-. The apparatus recited in claim l and wherein a flared passage connects said orifice and said passageway. '3. A dispenser nozzle closure for a collapsible container to efiect drop-by-drop discharge from the container when the liquid in such container is expelled under pressure created by squeezing the container, the nozzle of such :closure having an elongated narrow open ended passageway terminating at its outer open essentially unrestricted end in a liquid discharge lip on said nozzle, said nozzle having a small orifice of about .01 inch diameter at the inner end of said passageway to place said passageway in communication with the container, said orifice having 'an'are'a substantially less than the cross section area of said passageway, said passageway providing an elongated narrow opening extending outwardly from said orifice and'being of such length and cross sectionarea to collect References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 342,837 018cm June 1, 1886 2,188,802 Beckett Jan. 30, 1940 2,237,213 Brown Apr. 1, 1941 2,688,754 Willits et al. Sept. 14, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 619,246 France Dec. 28, 1926 788,746 France ..-Oct. 15, 1935 

